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| Summer snow delayed the time trials of the 2017 Roof. |
KZN’s Travis Teasdale (Brother Leader Tread KTM) finished second, ahead of title defender superstar Graham Jarvis (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna).
Young told Roof of Africa media: “Travis and I bonded during this race, he kept me honest.”
Teasdale said: “I’m happy to be on the podium. It was never over till the end. Wade is one of the best riders in the world.”
South Coast rider Blake Gutzeit (Bibvest bLU cRU Yamaha Racing) chased Jarvis all the way, but the pair separated up the infamous Soldiers Pass.
Gutzeit flew the flag high by riding in to a superb fourth place. “It’s an honour to ride with a rider of that calibre”, he said of his duel with the legendary Jarvis. “He is the best in the world and gapped me on the last hill, where it mattered”.
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| The ever rosy-cheeked Wade Young. |
Gutzeit felt the course favoured the speed of the South Africans.
Jarvis said it would of course have been great to finish with a back-to-back victory, but his Husqvarna got him on the podium and that was what counted. “Thanks for all the African hospitality and to the team for all the effort. I’ll be back.”
Racing into fifth was Alfredo Gomez, who clearly found his mojo, and scorched the course.
Their race was made a bit easier by the absense of Brett Swanepoel, who ended in hospital with a fractured sternum after he crashed out in the time trial section of the race.
Among the women, the first woman ever to complete the course, SA’s Kirsten Landman (Brother Leader trader KTM) finished the Gold class in 06:19:09, just over an hour behind Afredo’s sister, Sandra Gomez (Pepson Plastics Husqvarna), 05:21:38. “I become the second woman in history to conquer the Gold Class of the Mother of Hard Enduros Roof of Africa,” Gomes said after a race-long fight to defeat Landman.
“Thanks to my South African team and to everyone who made it possible for me to realise this dream — we did it!”
In the Bronze class, less than three minutes separated Liza Ackermann (04:50:02) and Rebecca James (04:47:37). Dubai-based Sune Schaffler closed off the Bronze class in 05:42:11.
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| The ridiculously talented Gomez siblings Alfredo and Sandra |
Final placings of the 2017 Roof
Gold
1. Wade Young (Sherco Liqui Moly Racing) 10:41:28
2. Travis Teasdale (Brother Leader Tread KTM) 10:52:34
3. Graham Jarvis (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna)11:04:06
Silver
1. Heinrich Zellhuber (Alfie Cox Motul KTM Racing) 11:28:02
2. Bradley Cox (Alfie Cox Motul KTM Racing) 11:49:36
3. Wilhelm Schonfeldt (BCR Arrow Yamaha) 12:1:00
Bronze
1. Brett Geary (KTM) 9:2:22
2. Brett Boyes (KTM) 9:24:52
3. Grant Burton Durham (Mechspec Racing) 9:32:18
